Marsch, CanMNT players react to facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in World Cup opener

As the bus carrying the Canadian men’s national team made its way through the streets of Toronto to the stadium where they will play their opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the team was finding out their opponent live.  

On the drive to BMO Field (or Toronto Stadium, as it'll be called this summer), phone screens lit up with scenes from Zenica, Bosnia, where Bosnia and Herzegovina stunned Italy on penalties in the UEFA World Cup qualifying pathway A to clinch the final spot in Canada Group B.

There’s no doubt it was a surprise result for much of the footballing world, as the four-time world champions, Italy, missed out on a third-straight World Cup tournament. 

“Not the typical bus ride to go to the stadium,” said Canada goalkeeper Max Crépeau. “We’re all watching on the iPhones, and we were excited as well. Because the World Cup is arriving very fast. I think Bosnia was the team that was most in form of the four that could have been a possibility, so it’s very difficult.” 

Just 73 days before Canada will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, following a 0-0 draw with Tunisia in their penultimate set of pre-tournament friendlies on Wednesday night, Canadian players and staff reacted to learning their first World Cup group stage opponent. 

The sentiment is that despite the 53 spots that separated world #12 Italy, and world #65 Bosnia and Herzegovina, they are under no illusions that this makes their World Cup path any easier. 

“It’s a hard team, like I mean, I don’t know if you guys saw [Edin] Džeko’s comments after the game, but he dedicated it to his group of friends that were killed in a bombing when he was young,” said Canadian men’s national team head coach Jesse Marsch. “These kids grew up in a worn-torn country, and a lot of them were lucky to escape. 

“I have a lot of respect for what Bosnia has achieved, what those players have been through, and I’m happy for them to be at the World Cup, and I know we’re in for a really difficult first match.” 

It is just the second time, and first since 2014, that Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for a World Cup since their federation was founded in 1992. 

Canada’s Ismaël Koné and his teammates were only able to catch the second half and beyond, but they were left thoroughly impressed by how Bosnia performed against Italy. 

“To be fair, Bosnia is a very good team,” said Koné. “I didn’t know this was their level. I’m very surprised with the experience they have, with the high quality they have.” 

Koné’s Sassuolo teammate, central defender Tarik Muharemović, went the full 120 minutes against Italy. Koné and Muharemović are now on a collision course in the Group B opener. 

It could be a similar scenario for winger Liam Millar, whose Hull City teammate, holding midfielder Amir Hadžiahmetović, subbed into the match in the 116th minute. 

“They’re a good team, we can’t underestimate them,” said Liam Millar. “They’re going to come here with energy. It’ll be a good game. One of my teammates is Bosnian, and then my coach is also Bosnian. When I get back to Hull, they’ll give me some banter about them beating us, but I’ll give it back, and we’ll see what happens.” 

What is most relieving for Canada’s staff and players is that there is no more waiting game or guessing game. They now know their opening World Cup matchup, and can fully begin the final sprint to the biggest match in the country’s history. 

“We just wanted to know who our opponent was, and obviously now it’s Bosnia,” said Millar. “It’s full focus.”